State of the Art Digital X-Ray

We now have the latest Technology that captures and stores images of your teeth on a computer, then the images allow Dentist and Hygienist to clearly diagnose problems easier and more clearly. Our Digital X-Rays reduce radiation 80 to 90% compared to traditional X-Rays.

Dental Emergencies

Any dental emergencies are seen promptly to reduce or eliminate pain and prevent additional unnecessary damage and costly dental restoration. Call our office and get same day appointment for your dental pain.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root. All teeth have between one and four root canals.

Many tooth problems involve infections that spread to the pulp, which is the inner chamber of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves and other tissues. A diseased inner tooth brings a host of problems; pain and sensitivity are some of the first indications of a problem; but inside, a spreading infection can cause small pockets of pus to develop, leading to an abscess.

Root canal therapy is a remarkable treatment with a very high rate of success, restoring the healthy portion of the tooth. In fact, root canal therapy is designed to save a problem tooth.

Root canal therapy usually entails one to three visits. During the visit, diseased tissue is removed, the inner chamber cleansed and disinfected, and the tiny canals reshaped and are filled with an elastic material and medication designed to prevent infection. Usually a Root Canaled tooth will need a crown due to being brittle as a non vital tooth.
Most patients who have root canal experience little or no discomfort or pain, and enjoy a restored tooth that can last almost as long as it’s healthy original.

White Fillings

Dental fillings are used to restore teeth that have been damaged by tooth decay. The development of tooth-colored fillings has provided dentist and patients with a safer and more attractive alternative to silver amalgam fillings.

By precisely matching tooth-colored composite fillings with the natural color of your teeth, we are capable to provide you with white fillings that are virtually invisible. The removal of old amalgam fillings can provide patients with white fillings that provide a more pleasing, silver-free smile.

Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal Disease (gum disease) is an ongoing bacterial infection of the gums and bone surrounding a tooth. When plaque bacterial growth is not controlled by Brushing, Flossing and Routine Preventive Cleanings, it begins to harden on the tooth creating a shell of Tartar or Calculus. As this layer grows, it expands under the gingiva becoming an irritation to the gums and bone surrounding the tooth. The gingiva becomes red and inflamed. This beginning stage of the disease process is called Gingivitis. Eventually, it progresses to where the gums bleed easily and begin to pull away from the tooth. This causes the natural pocket around the tooth to become deeper, creating an area for bacteria to hide. When the bone becomes irritated by bacteria, it retreats, receding down the root. Again, this creates a deeper pocket in which the bacteria can hide. This cycle of Periodontal Disease, if not treated, can destroy the gum and bone around the teeth, causing the tooth to become loose. Then a tooth, which may be healthy, is lost due to Periodontal Disease.

Fortunately, gingivitis is reversible with professional care and good home dental care. A non-surgical method of treating periodontitis is the scaling and root planning procedure (SRP). During a scaling and root planning, a careful cleaning of the root surfaces is performed to remove dental plaque and dental tartar, and the tooth root surfaces are smoothed to remove bacterial toxins. Dental surgery for periodontal disease includes pocket reduction procedures, crown lengthening and soft tissue grafts.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction procedures today are far less painful than ever before, thanks to powerful anesthetics and sedatives. In many cases, a patient who has tooth pulled experiences little or no discomfort, and only minor bleeding.

Before a tooth is extracted, the area surrounding the tooth is numbed with a topical/and or injectable anesthetic such as Novocain.

Patients with extracted teeth sometimes need to take an antibiotic, and at the very least, take precautions following the procedure to ensure that infection doesn't occur.

Smoking, vigorous brushing and rinsing, and drinking liquids through straws are discouraged during the post-operative period because they hinder healing and may cause the wound to open. Cold compresses applied to the outside cheek near the extraction area can help reduce any swelling and promote faster healing.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that erupt in the back corners of the upper and lower normal adult mouth. Unfortunately, most people experience problems from wisdom teeth; in most cases, this is because the teeth erupt too close to existing permanent teeth, causing crowding, improper bites, and other problems.

If wisdom teeth are causing a problem and are not pulled, they can sometimes become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can be extremely painful, as well as harmful to your oral health. Symptoms are easy to spot: severe discomfort, inflammation, and some kinds of infections.

Many people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted to avoid future serious problems. In general, the lack of the four wisdom teeth does not hamper one's ability to properly bite down, speak or eat.

Teeth Whitening

Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth. The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.

One type of stain-caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis-actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don't help. Another type of stain-one that can be more easily attacked by brushing, flossing and rinsing-is caused by external factors such as foods.

More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains. Some commercially available "whitening toothpastes" can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's enamel.

Professional whitening performed by our office is considered to be the most effective and safest method.

Bridges

Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth. Bridges are bonded to existing teeth.
Porcelain, gold alloys or combinations of materials are usually used to make bridge appliances.

Crowns

Crowns are synthetic caps, usually made of a material like porcelain, placed over a tooth.
Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to restore the tooth.

Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, prevent a cracked tooth from becoming worse, or an existing filling is in jeopardy of becoming loose or dislocated. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance.

With proper care, a good quality crown could last up to eight years or longer. Certain behaviors such as jaw clenching or bruxism (teeth grinding) significantly shorten the life of a crown. Moreover, eating brittle foods, ice or hard candy can compromise the adhesion of the crown, or even damage the crown.

Veneers

Teeth that are badly stained, shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth.
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking.

Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers.

During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. For certain patients no preparation of the teeth may be necessary. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth, and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.

During the final "bonding" visit, also about one or two hours, Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser, causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement.
It is important to brush and floss daily. Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. It`s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth.

Implants

Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. Implants are so well designed that they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures.

Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene.

Because implants require surgery, patients are administered anesthesia and, if necessary, antibiotics to stave off infection following the procedure.

Dentures

A Partial or Denture is a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and put back into your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, they may receive full or partial denture.

There are two types of Dentures. First, a Conventional Full Denture where all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. Second, an Immediate Full Denture in which measurements of your existing teeth and jaw shape are taken and dentures fitted in the mouth the same day the teeth are removed. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth.

Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed. This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.